Murray's critically endangered listing worries irrigators

Updated
Wed 9 Oct 2013, 8:57 AM AEDT

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Murray listing worries irrigators

The National Irrigators Council is urging decisive action to stop part of the Murray having a "critically endangered" status.

The stretch of river from Wentworth in New South Wales to the Murray mouth, south of Adelaide, was listed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act back in August, a day before the federal election campaign began.

The listing means any development along the river could require federal approval.

Irrigators Council chief executive Tom Chesson said that could mean more red tape for river communities and discourage development.

"As fishermen, as campers, as people who use the houseboats, we're concerned that it will impact everyone," he said.

"If you wanted to go and build a new road or a new subdivision that potentially could trigger this."

The Federal Government has 15 parliamentary sitting days to disallow the motion.

Mr Chesson is urging state governments to do more to ensure the endangered listing is reversed.

South Australia's Minister for the River Murray, Ian Hunter, questioned whether a critically endangered listing would work, saying the Murray-Darling Basin Plan should protect the river system.